Capsaicin suppresses interleukin-31-induced itching partially involved in inhibiting the expression of dorsal root ganglion interleukin-31 receptor A in male mice.

To elucidate the mechanisms underlying the antipruritic effect of capsaicin, we investigated how topical application of capsaicin (0.01, 0.1 and 1.

Gelatin Sponge as an Anchorage for Three-dimensional Culture of Colorectal Cancer Cells.

Background: Compared to two-dimensional cultures, three-dimensional (3D) cultures have many advantages in cancer studies. Nevertheless, their implementation is unsatisfactory. This study aimed to develop an anchorage-dependent 3D culture model for colorectal cancer research.

Crossbridge Recruitment Capacity of Wild-Type and Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy-Related Mutant Troponin-T Evaluated by X-ray Diffraction and Mechanical Study of Cardiac Skinned Fibers.

X-ray diffraction and tension measurement experiments were conducted on rat left ventricular skinned fibers with or without "troponin-T treatment," which exchanges the endogenous troponin T/I/C complex with exogenous troponin-T. These experiments were performed to observe the structural changes in troponin-T within a fiber elicited by contractile crossbridge formation and investigate the abnormality of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy-related troponin-T mutants. The intensity of the troponin reflection at 1/38.

Involvement of interleukin-31 receptor A in morphine-induced itching and antinociception in mice.

Background: Morphine is an effective analgesic for the treatment of severe pain, but it can cause itching in patients. In the present study, we examined the possible involvement of interleukin-31 (IL-31) receptor A (IL-31RA) on the morphine-induced itching and antinociception in mice.

Methods: Long-lasting scratching (LLS) and short-lasting scratching (SLS) were estimated as an indicator of itching and nonspecific behaviour, respectively, and antinociception was evaluated using a hot-plate test in mice.

Regulation of Th2 responses by different cell types expressing the interleukin-31 receptor.

Background: Interleukin-31 (IL-31) is a recently identified cytokine produced by Th2 cells that is involved in the development of atopic dermatitis-induced skin inflammation and pruritus. Its receptor, IL-31RA, is expressed by a number of cell types, including epithelial cells, eosinophils, and activated monocytes and macrophages. To date, however, the regulation of Th2 responses by distinct cell types and tissues expressing IL-31RA has not been well studied.

Repeated administration of IL-31 upregulates IL-31 receptor A (IL-31RA) in dorsal root ganglia and causes severe itch-associated scratching behaviour in mice.

We investigated the effects of repeated administration of interleukin-31 (IL-31) on itch-associated scratching counts (long-lasting scratching, LLS) and IL-31-related receptor mRNA expression in mice. Intra-dermal (i.d.

Cholangiocarcinoma cell line TK may be useful for the pharmacokinetic study of the chemotherapeutic agent gemcitabine.

Cholangiocarcinoma is a disease with a poor prognosis. A human cholangiocarcinoma cell line, TK, was previously established to enable further understanding of the disease. We conducted this investigation to determine whether or not the TK line is useful for pharmacokinetic study of the chemotherapeutic agent gemcitabine (GEM).

Morphological study of the TK cholangiocarcinoma cell line with three-dimensional cell culture.

Cholangiocarcinoma is an intractable carcinoma originating from the bile duct epithelium. To gain an understanding of the cell biology of cholangiocarcinoma, in vitro cell culture is valuable. However, well‑characterized cell lines are limited.

A single dose of interleukin-31 (IL-31) causes continuous itch-associated scratching behaviour in mice.

We investigated the effects of a single dose of mouse interleukin-31 (IL-31) on scratching behaviour in comparison with spontaneous skin-lesion- or serotonin (5-HT)- induced scratching behaviour in NC/Nga and BALB/c mice. Intradermal (i.d.

Spontaneous mutant ICR kuru2 might be another shaker-2 deaf mouse.

Background: We have established a mouse model of spontaneous deafness by sib-inbreeding over 10 years. The mouse was designated as kuru(2) and has been previously reported in this Journal.

Materials And Methods: In order to identify the genetic abnormality, the mouse was back-crossed to Mus musculus castaneus (CAST), and myosine 15 or myoXV on chromosome 11 was assumed to be the responsive gene.

Conjugation of quantum dots and JT95 IgM monoclonal antibody for thyroid carcinoma without abolishing the specificity and activity of the antibody.

Among the immunoglobulins, IgM class-antibodies are now considered to be potent immunological reagents for anticancer remedies. However, only a few reports are available about the effective labeling of IgM with enzymes, fluorescence, or other bioreactive reagents. Here, we report an effective application of luminescent semiconductive nanoparticles, quantum dots (QDs), as a labeling material of the IgM antibody.

Expression of hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase enzyme in the human central nervous system and in pineal parenchymal cell tumors.

Pineal parenchymal tumor (PPT) cells usually show immunoreactivity for synaptophysin, neuron-specific enolase, neurofilament protein, class III beta-tubulin, tau protein, PGP9.5, chromogranin, serotonin, retinal S-antigen, and rhodopsin, but these markers are not specific for PPTs. Melatonin is produced and secreted mainly bypineal parenchymal cells; hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase (HIOMT) catalyzes the final reaction in melatonin biosynthesis.

Three-dimensional cell culture of glioma and morphological comparison of four different human cell lines.

Background: To explore the intracranial behaviors of glioma, a three-dimensional culture was devised and the morphology of four cell lines was examined.

Materials And Methods: Bioabsorbable and degradable gelatin was used as the scaffold and T98G, A172, KNS42, and U118MG representative standard malignant glioma cell lines were cultured three-dimensionally.

Results: When grown, the cells demonstrated characteristic conformations.

Application of therapeutic insonation to malignant glioma cells and facilitation by echo-contrast microbubbles of levovist.

Background: Malignancies affecting the central nervous system are intractable to conventional therapies thereby requiring an alternative strategy, such as ultrasound irradiation.

Materials And Methods: We originally designed a transducer for intracranial insonation and investigated the effect of 210.4 kHz ultrasound on malignant glioma cells.

Enhancing activity of N-glycosylation for constitutive proteins secretions in non-polarized cells.

Several fusion proteins of mouse Interleukins (mILs) and the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) were expressed in fibroblast and epithelial cells. Among these proteins, the mIL-31 derivative was the most efficiently secreted into the medium in a N-glycosylation-dependent manner. From the analysis of deletion mutants, the minimal structure for constitutive secretions consisted of a signal peptide and N-glycosylation.

Taip2 is a novel cell death-related gene expressed in the brain during development.

TAIP2 was isolated as one of the homologous genes of TAIP3 (TGF-beta-up-regulated apoptosis-inducing-protein chromosome 3). The transcript of the mouse counterpart of TAIP2, designated mTaip2, was detected in several tissue specimens from embryos to adults, while mTaip2 was dominantly expressed in the embryonic brain. The overexpression of the full-length mTaip2 induced cell death in various cell lines.

Inhibition of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase as a protective effect of nicaraven in ionizing radiation- and ara-C-induced cell death.

Background: Nicaraven is a drug used for patients with a subarachnoid hemorrhage. It crosses the blood-brain barrier and has potent antivasospastic and brain-protective effects. While nicaraven scavenges the hydroxyl radical, the mechanism of its protection remains obscure.

Local delivery of doxorubicin for malignant glioma by a biodegradable PLGA polymer sheet.

Implantable, biocompatible and biodegradable devices bearing an anticancer drug can provide promising local therapy to patients with malignant disorders. With the aim of treating brain tumors, especially gliomas, a membranous sheet containing doxorubicin was produced by co-polymerization to poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA). When release of the drug from the sheet was measured, sustained release continued until day 34.

Human Shugoshin mediates kinetochore-driven formation of kinetochore microtubules.

The conserved protein Shugoshin (Sgo) plays a role in the maintenance of centromeric cohesion in mitosis and meiosis. Human Shugoshin (hSgo) was first identified as an overexpressed protein in breast cancers. Here we demonstrate that hSgo mediates kinetochore-driven formation of kinetochore -microtubules (MTs) during bipolar spindle assembly.

Progressive degeneration of stereocilia in cochlear hair cells in hearing-impaired kuru2 mice.

Background: We previously isolated a mouse strain, kuru2, which exhibits abnormal behavior and hearing impairment. To investigate the etiology of this impairment, the ultrastructure of the inner ear was examined.

Materials And Methods: The morphologies of the cochlea and the vestibule of control (Jcl:ICR) and mutant mice were analyzed by electron microscopy.